Central Cali's Standout Players: Bakersfield v. BCHS Game

Bakersfield, CA - Last Wednesday I attended the South Yosemite Valley League match-up between undefeated teams Bakersfield Christian Eagles and Bakersfield Drillers for first place in league. The Drillers looked good early and had a one point lead at half, but the Eagles would control the interior and junior [player_tooltip player_id='2646533' first='Taiwo' last='Daramola'] had a monster double-double. In this article I look at 7 players that had standout showings by positions: guards, wings, and forwards. I discuss how they played in the game and their relevant statistics, which are my own personal statistics. I will follow this with standout players from the North v, South Bakersfield game and Buchanan v. Clovis West games from this past week.   Bakersfield Christian Eagles 60 Bakersfield Drillers 52   Bakersfield Christian 60 Bakersfield 52   Standout Guards:   6'1 Caiden Jackson (PG | 2027) Bakersfield Christian Eagles   Jackson was the constant force on the perimeter for the Eagles in a hard fought win over league, and city rival, Bakersfield High, as he would control the flow of the game at the point, and true to his skill set, displayed elite perimeter on-ball defense in the Eagles win. Jackson would score 11 points and collect 4 steals, and contributed to the scoring primarily in the first half when BCHS struggled to get points from anyone else, as [player_tooltip player_id='2646533' first='Taiwo' last='Daramola'] had 3 fouls before the half and had to sit for considerable minutes. It was Jackson with a 3-ball and several trips to the line that kept the Eagles in the fight. Jackson has great lateral quickness, active hands and instincts to deflect passes or poke the ball out, gets into his defenders dribbling space, and turns defense to transition offense often. Jackson has really been the consistent lead guard presence for the Eagles this season, and he was clutch in the win over the Drillers. He has good court vision to find open teammates off the drive and kick pass, to his diver off the pick and roll action, and transition dimes. Jackson gave the perimeter players fits for the Drillers outside of RJ Shehee.   6'1 [player_tooltip player_id='3034823' first='Carter' last='Steinback'] (CG | 2028) Bakersfield Christian Eagles   Steinback has a smooth jumper, controlled pace of play with the ball in his hands, the court vision to find open teammates off the pick and roll action, off the drive and kick pass, or up the court off the defensive rebound, as he is a solid positional rebounder. With Killebrew going down in the first half with a leg cramp and Braylen Smith sidelined with a bruised quad, there was a definite need for perimeter scoring for the Eagles. Although Caiden Jackson did a great job at the lead guard position, he is not an elite perimeter shooter, but Steinback came through big time, as he would connect on 3 threes in the game for a total of 9 points, but it was the timely nature of the pair of threes that came in the second half that stamped his imprint on the game. Steinback is much more than just a shooter, but his off ball movement is fluid and he gets to the open spot, as well as designed plays for him to get the 3-ball up, and he was big for BCHS in the win over the Drillers.   5'11 Kamren Owens (SG | 2026) Bakersfield Drillers   Owens has been the floor spacer for the Drillers this season, and a welcomed boost as a consistent perimeter scorer that held down the lead guard spot until Shehee was done with the football season, and he displayed his value last Wednesday, as he would score 12 points, 9 in the 2nd half, and generated 3 steals, as he played arguably his best defensive game I've seen live. Owen moves fluidly off the ball to get to his shot spots, can light it up with the 3-ball off the catch, and showed nice use of the pump-fake when defenders over-pursued for the Eagles, getting to the mid-range jumper, as well as creative scoring at the basket over height. Owens, a stud in track and field, showed the footwork and lateral quickness to stay in front of his opponent, active hands to dislodge the ball or jump passing lanes, and showed he can impact both ends of the court, and not just hit threes. Owens will be big for the Drillers moving forward but was not enough to knock off the South Valley's top squad.   5'9 RJ Shehee (PG | 2028) Bakersfield Drillers   Shehee controlled the flow of the game for Bakersfield in the first half, as he displayed his high-level on-ball defense, frustrating Eagles perimeter players, and showcasing the court vision and decision making with the ball in his hands to set players up for quality shot opportunities, as the Drillers would take a 24-23 lead into the break. Shehee took his offense up a notch in the 3rd quarter, scoring all 8 of his points in that frame, Shehee has elite handles, quick and shifty moves to break his defender down, great use of the hesitation and change of pace and direction to find holes in the defense, and gets his shot off quickly to evade extended arms on close-outs or bigs in the paint, with touch on the floater, body control to contort in the air, and a smooth stop-and-pop middy. Shehee would also hand out 4 assists and a pair of steals, but it would not be enough to stave off the Eagles 4th quarter push.    Standout Wings:   6'4 Owen Yurosek (WF | 2027) Bakersfield Christian Eagles   Yurosek has been coming up big recently for the Eagles, after missing most of the preseason due to BCHS football team going to the state championship, and was most impactful on the boards, in particularly in the second half, as he would pull down 9 rebounds and scored all 9 points, helping the Eagles get the win and stay undefeated in SWVL play. Yurosek brings a level of mental and physical toughness to the court that was needed to add to the skilled and talented Eagles roster, and it has shown in the last two games I have watched the Eagles in a week span. Yurosek can space the floor with the 3-ball, has a relentless motor on both ends, will get the 50/50 ball, and treats the opponent like what it is, the opposition. Yurosek tends to come up with key buckets and plays when it matters, and his second half to help lift the Eagles from a 1-point deficit at halt to an eight point win. His 9 points is that difference, and you need players like this to win when it matters. Huge one for the Eagles on MLK Monday against Mesa (AZ) and nationally ranked Jakyi Miles at the Nest.    6'4 [player_tooltip player_id='2700921' first='Kade' last='Johnson'] (WG | 2026) Bakersfield Drillers   Johnson has been one of the most prolific scorers in the Central Section this season, and he got off to a hot start against the Eagles, as he would 9 of his team-high 15 points in the first half and a big reason the Drillers were up 1 at the half, 23-24. Johnson took a hard fall in the 3rd quarter and didn't seem to be on the attack as much when he returned, playing more of the play-maker role in the fourth quarter. Johnson connected on his signature mid-range jumper off the bounce, the 3-ball off the catch, and crashed the glass to pull down 7 boards. Johnson had a block and a steal showcasing his impact on the defensive end with the wingspan to alter shots, deflect passes, and score in the open court.   Standout Big:   6'8 [player_tooltip player_id='2646533' first='Taiwo' last='Daramola'] (PF | 2027) Bakersfield Christian Eagles    Daramola was an absolute force in the paint on both ends and showed why he is one of the top prospects in the Section, going for 16 points, 15 rebounds, and 3 blocks, most of that coming in the second half, as he had three fouls before the break. Daramola is one of the best shot blockers/rim protectors in the state, and he had that on display, taking control of the paint in the 2nd half, preventing any easy shots around the basket, and grabbing every key rebound down the stretch to help seal the game. Daramola showed the mid-range jumper from the short-porch, and a nice take off the dribble to score at the basket with good body control and touch around the cup. Daramola will be needed in the match-up against Mesa (AZ) on MLK Monday Showcase at BCHS.

Bakersfield, CA - Last Wednesday I attended the South Yosemite Valley League match-up between undefeated teams Bakersfield Christian Eagles and Bakersfield Drillers for first place in league. The Drillers looked good early and had a one point lead at half, but the Eagles would control the interior and junior Taiwo Daramola Taiwo Daramola 6'7" | C Bakersfield Christian | 2027 State CA-S had a monster double-double. In this article I look at 7 players that had standout showings by positions: guards, wings, and forwards. I discuss how they played in the game and their relevant statistics, which are my own personal statistics. I will follow this with standout players from the North v, South Bakersfield game and Buchanan v. Clovis West games from this past week.